AFP/Tehran

Iran banned a weekly newspaper owned by a critic of its nuclear deal yesterday and issued a formal warning to the country’s leading conservative daily for alleged breaches of reporting guidelines.
The penalties were the first issued by the government since new guidance on media coverage of the historic accord was issued last week, underscoring sensitivity about the nuclear issue in Tehran.
The Press Supervisory Board banned “9th Dey Weekly”, managed by ultra-conservative lawmaker Hamid Rasaie and named after the Persian calendar date of a major pro-government rally on December 30, 2009.
It also gave warning notices to the Kayhan daily and another outlet, the Raja news website.
All are alleged to have insulted Iranian officials as well as violating orders on coverage of the deal issued by the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).
The SNSC is the country’s highest security committee and it oversees the nuclear talks under the auspices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The official Irna news agency reported the media ban and warnings. Quoting the Press Supervisory Board it urged domestic media to consider “national interests and security and carry out criticism in the framework of responsible freedom”.
“If anyone was to make comments against our national interests on a subject that is tied with our national security, it should definitely be stopped,” said Hossein Noushabadi, a culture ministry spokesman.